MOVIE

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

Directed by David Zucker1h 26mPublished Aug 5, 2025Episode length 3h 25m
Episode 290 - The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad
ComedyCrime

Top cast

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Leslie Nielsen
Leslie Nielsen
Frank Drebin
Priscilla Presley
Priscilla Presley
Jane Spencer
Ricardo Montalban
Ricardo Montalban
Vincent Ludwig
George Kennedy
George Kennedy
Ed Hocken
O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Nordberg
Susan Beaubian
Susan Beaubian
Mrs. Nordberg
Nancy Marchand
Nancy Marchand
Mayor
Raye Birk
Raye Birk
Pahpshmir
Jeannette Charles
Jeannette Charles
Queen Elizabeth II
Ed Williams
Ed Williams
Ted Olsen
David Zucker
David Zucker
Director
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Overview

When the bumbling Lieutenant Frank Drebin investigates events following the shooting of his partner, he stumbles upon an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II.

Show notes

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“Nice beaver.” / “Thanks, I just had it stuffed. Join Ian & B-Tech Kev for our 290th episode as we suit up, slip up, and dive headfirst into the gloriously ridiculous world of The Naked Gun (1988). We’re trading time-travelling dystopias for banana peels, police files, and a barrage of visual gags as we discuss: In

Read full show notes

“Nice beaver.” / “Thanks, I just had it stuffed.  Join Ian & B-Tech Kev for our 290th episode as we suit up, slip up, and dive headfirst into the gloriously ridiculous world of The Naked Gun (1988). We’re trading time-travelling dystopias for banana peels, police files, and a barrage of visual gags as we discuss:

  • In slapstick, how silly is too silly? Is there a line—or is the whole point to obliterate it with a steamroller and a tuba?
  • Kev shares stories from his recent trip to New York City: the sights, the sounds, and whether each of us are New York or Los Angeles people
  • Ian talks about the return of the weight game and how this is a summer of inward reflection
  • Ian also shares some personal stories about his father—and how certain films like The Naked Gun carry more than just laughs; they carry memories.
  • We explore Leslie Nielsen’s genius—how his straight-faced absurdity became the gold standard for parody.
  • Can a film this silly still resonate in today’s comedy landscape? Or is this brand of humour an extinct species?
  • Do background jokes, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sight gags, and tightly wound chaos make this more than just a spoof—Does it become precision parody?
  • Baseball anthems, the Queen in peril, exploding toilets, and a police officer with the worst undercover skills in cinematic history.
  • And finally, whether The Naked Gun is the Best Film Ever—or just a walk down memory lane

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